Duck Life Battle

A game about some fierce avian creatures; where have we seen that before? But it's not what you think. This casual title spreads the message that it's time to get your quack on and engage in Duck Life Battle, a sequel to the unknown adventure game that had you shuffling through a duck-filled world of mayhem.

If this is your first time hearing about the franchise, you're in good company. Little do I know about the predecessor, and even less, do I understand what Duck Life Battle entails. However, I'm still intrigued by the premise of taking the role of a duck and living out your days battling outsiders. These avian warriors could be the key to understanding the mysteries behind worldwide duck societies.

It's a Hard Duck Life, For Us

We're going to play Duck Life Battle as a complete newcomer. There's nothing we need to understand about its predecessor. So how can we approach the game? The title is about angry ducks taking their fury into the minigame sphere rather than the racing arena of the previous entry. The core tagline is that they're even more furious than ever, and you'll have to create a duck, train it, and be the best battle duck possible.

That's enough to send anyone into a fit of laughter. We can't tell if that was an intentionally ridiculous concept or if the developer thought it fitted the casual genre. Whatever the case, the significant surprise is that Duck Life Battle is entertaining, despite its cheap surface outlook. What makes these creatures slide into a perfect combat role?

Customization is the first aspect that reels a player into the world, where you'll assume a role of a duck warrior vying for supremacy. You'll accomplish that by testing your cognitive skills in over 25 minigames, dialoguing with other ducks, combat against foes, and championing tournaments. Yes, it's all a bit silly, and some games feel pointless, but it becomes highly competitive where scores are involved.

So looking outside the wacky entertainment factor, is Duck Life Battle any good? It's a short playtime, the grind becomes obnoxious, and it has the visual representation of a flash game. However, there's no doubt it will keep you giggling for a few hours. There's just enough silliness to compensate for the fact that it's a cheap party game that isn't groundbreaking for the casual genre.

Don't Forget to Duck

There's this lingering feeling that Duck Life Battle is a cheap knockoff of the Angry Birds franchise, and you can't shake it. Play the game, and any player would think it's trying to capitalize off the popularity of the popular series. But then again, Duck Life Battle does just enough to keep players entertained, minimizing the fact that it could be a rip-off of the better-known franchise.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• The customization of ducks enhances the experience
• Varied gameplay keeps players interested
• The humorous premise provides plenty of laughs

Cons:

• The game can be finished quickly
• Some of the minigames are too basic
• You'll have to grind to retain your top-level status